Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Care Quality Commission in Britain has found 14 abortion clinics on
the National Health Service breaking rules and also found
"irregularities" at some clinics.

According to the Care Quality Commission, the 14 clinics were found
breaking rules by allowing doctors to pre-sign forms authorising abortions, which
does not comply to The Abortion Act 1967. The Abortion Act 1967 requires a form
(HSA1) certifying that the requirements for a termination have been met to be
signed by two doctors before the procedure takes place. The practice in the 14
abortion clinics meant that in reality only one doctor was making the decision.

The Care Quality Commission was instructed by the Health Secretary
Andrew Lansley to investigate the practice of pre-signed HSA1 forms. The
inspections were unannounced and took place in March 2012.

The inspections follow private investigations by The Telegraph in
February 2012, which also showed doctors to pre-sign HSA1 forms. The
Telegraph’s investigation also found abortion
clinics were flouting the law by allowing women to terminate their pregnancies
on the basis of the unborn child’s gender.

The 14 abortion clinics found to be in breach of the law are now
complying with the Abortion Act, the Care Quality Commission says. All have now
taken steps including internal audits and staff training to ensure continued
compliance.